Christmas is so soon!!!! The Christmas season started with a boom....there was a big Thanksgiving party with a ton of Ex-Pats it was a blast. Well now the weeks have been going by so fast Christmas will be here in less than two weeks :)
Please kneel for the Christmas parties we've been having here with our South Asian friends. I've had a number of wonderful opportunities to tell people about the REAL reason for Christmas. All the with birth of the baby King that was promised thousands of years before. Please continue to lift up the work here in South Asia. Please ask the Father to open the ears and hearts of the people who will hear about Chr1st this winter season.
Other things that would be great to have lifted up to the Father:
Budget issues and the stretched finances for my company in the coming year
Lottie Moon Chr1stmas Offering :)
My trip to the North East of my country for Chr1stmas with my national friend
Visa issues in my South Asia country. (There's a new Visa policy that is causing a lot of stress. Many things are being canceled or changed for this. Please ask the Father to show himself mightily to all of us in this situation)
K it's late and I have some meetings tomorrow that I need to be up EARLY for.
Loves and hugs!
Sar
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
:)
Hey everyone! Just wanted to see who's reading this. Please post a note.
So today was a computer work day. It went well and was pretty darn cool. The day was spent looking through Proverbs and 1st and 2nd Samuel. It was pretty cool trying to tie a Proverb to stories in David and Saul's life. The whole day reading scripture was so relaxing and exciting. There were so many things that made more sense when read in one sitting.
Today I came away with: David's true respect for God's anointed one! Even when Saul was being horrible to David and acting crazy David still did not harm him because he was God's anointed one. Then I thought what my sins did to the True Anointed One, and how the sins I continue each day hurt him. I aim to be more like David.
So today was a computer work day. It went well and was pretty darn cool. The day was spent looking through Proverbs and 1st and 2nd Samuel. It was pretty cool trying to tie a Proverb to stories in David and Saul's life. The whole day reading scripture was so relaxing and exciting. There were so many things that made more sense when read in one sitting.
Today I came away with: David's true respect for God's anointed one! Even when Saul was being horrible to David and acting crazy David still did not harm him because he was God's anointed one. Then I thought what my sins did to the True Anointed One, and how the sins I continue each day hurt him. I aim to be more like David.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Prayers needed
So I was headed out this morning to meet with a friend and see some of the city but before jumping in the shower I checked my e-mail. When I opened my e-mail I found a link to a Santa Maria California news site, at the site I saw a picture of my cousin's husband and went on to read that he had died. It's not the sort of information I would ever hope to get over the internet but as my mother told me the situation permitted it since she lost my number along with everyone else's.
He was a California Highway Patrol officer in Santa Barbara and lived just up the mountain from SB. My cousin has been married about 5 years now but dated Jerrod for many years, they have a daughter (Julia) who is 4. I have a lot of memories of Jerrod being this cool dude who was dating Tricia and was really helpful to my grandmother around the house. He was a really sweet guy with a great sens of humor and a good laugh. If you remember a few months back my grandmother suddenly passed away. My grandmother raised my cousin and was a major part of her life, they were just coping with that loss as best they could. I've just talked with Tricia her and Julia are doing as best they can but please pray, pray hard for them. They are trying to get through it right now.
I'm not sure how other people and their cousins are but to me they are just about as close as siblings. There were six on my dad's side that lived down the street from us and then two on my mother's side in Santa Barbara. My mom, her mom and sister's were close and Tricia is like a daughter to my mother and her other aunt. Please be kneeling for my Aunt Eileen and my mom as they aid Tricia in any way they can.
I know the Lord will bring glory to himself in all situations, but not everyone believes that. Please ask the Lord to show himself mightily and to be seen clearly through those that follow Christ and interact with Tricia and Julia.
He was a California Highway Patrol officer in Santa Barbara and lived just up the mountain from SB. My cousin has been married about 5 years now but dated Jerrod for many years, they have a daughter (Julia) who is 4. I have a lot of memories of Jerrod being this cool dude who was dating Tricia and was really helpful to my grandmother around the house. He was a really sweet guy with a great sens of humor and a good laugh. If you remember a few months back my grandmother suddenly passed away. My grandmother raised my cousin and was a major part of her life, they were just coping with that loss as best they could. I've just talked with Tricia her and Julia are doing as best they can but please pray, pray hard for them. They are trying to get through it right now.
I'm not sure how other people and their cousins are but to me they are just about as close as siblings. There were six on my dad's side that lived down the street from us and then two on my mother's side in Santa Barbara. My mom, her mom and sister's were close and Tricia is like a daughter to my mother and her other aunt. Please be kneeling for my Aunt Eileen and my mom as they aid Tricia in any way they can.
I know the Lord will bring glory to himself in all situations, but not everyone believes that. Please ask the Lord to show himself mightily and to be seen clearly through those that follow Christ and interact with Tricia and Julia.
Monday, October 19, 2009
While I was reading last night I came across this verse.......it's really cool and for some reason just touches mu heart.
"From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed.
From prophets to priests, they are all frauds.
They offer superficial treatments for my people's mortal wound.
They give assurance of peace when there is no peace.
Are they ashamed....they dont even know how to blush."
Jeremuah 6.13-15
I love this because during this time God's children were really bad at following him....ALL of them even the spiritual leaders of the country. There's a lot about these verses that remind me of India and my heart just breaks for this place. Please pray for this country, pray that many would have the assurance of God's peace that heals mortal wounds to give life everlasting.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Making Cookies at 4:30 AM
GOOD Morning! Since I returned from America my sleep schedule is all messed up. I also have been sick and slept some really odd hours to help that go away. Well the sickness and the sleeping problems aren't going away. Yesterday and the day before I woke up at 4:30 am, it was cool I had some things I could do while I wasn't sleeping. Last night I went to bed at 5:30pm and woke up at 9pm so then I couldn't go to sleep alllllllll night. So I spent the night doing random things to keep occupied.....sleep was not one of those things. Finally after thinking about food and how I need to try and cook more or bake more I decided to do something about it. So at 4 am I got out of my bed and went to the kitchen to see what I could make. I thought about chicken and mashed potatoes but we didn't have any potatoes and I wasn't in the mood to eat. Since I didn't want a meal I came to the conclusion that making cookies would be a good idea......ha.
So as I got the mix out, added the egg and butter I started baking. The first two batches were pretty good, but not amazing. Earlier in the night I was talking with a friend that lives over here and she was telling me the secret to making good cookies is to make them with love. At first I thought she was joking with me but she was serious. I thought I would try it her way and make cookies with all the love I have in my little exhausted heart at 4:30 in the morning.
I said earlier the first two batches were okay, not amazing but okay......well then came the third batch. I did the usual measured out the blobs of dough and put them on the metal sheet. After placing the cookies in the little convection oven thing I went into my room to continue reading my bible and studying about the book of Jeremiah. I was waiting for the "ding" that let me know the cookies were done (just like I had done with the two batches prior). When the "ding" went off I went to get out the cookies.......
Here is the scene........
I put down my little bible and study book about Daniel, step off the bed and put my house shoes on. As I leave my room and head to the kitchen I am really excited about the cookies, I was thinking about how I could surprise my roommate when she got back from her vacation in two days with some cookies. As I enter the kitchen there is a strange billowing of smoke coming from the oven. My first thought was, "YIKES! I think my oven is malfunctioning! MONSTER!!!!! The cookies! The amazing chocolate chips I brought from America (you can't but Chocolate chips here you have to bring them in a suitcase). OH MAN! WOW! The smoke is really coming out!"
So I run over and open the oven and take out the pan. The cookies are CHARRED! I start trying to think what could have happened I know I am not the best in the kitchen but wow this was BAD. My first though, power surge.......the power must have done something wrong and my oven has to be messed up. It's a possibility because the wall socket it plugs into is problematic and electricity is always a little strange around here. After more thought I came to the conclusion that the butter and the egg might not have mixed in as well as I thought they did.
While all this is going on in my head tons of black smoke is leaving my open kitchen window and going into the people upstairs bedroom window. (there is this big 7x7 open window space in the middle of my apartment. It is in the middle of all three apartment floors.....it's the same opening and the people upstairs have their window open) I bet that was a really nice smell to wake up to, REALLY BURNT COOKIES.
I came to the conclusion I should not be allowed to cook in the kitchen, or more practically I should always stay right next to what ever it is that I am making.
So as I got the mix out, added the egg and butter I started baking. The first two batches were pretty good, but not amazing. Earlier in the night I was talking with a friend that lives over here and she was telling me the secret to making good cookies is to make them with love. At first I thought she was joking with me but she was serious. I thought I would try it her way and make cookies with all the love I have in my little exhausted heart at 4:30 in the morning.
I said earlier the first two batches were okay, not amazing but okay......well then came the third batch. I did the usual measured out the blobs of dough and put them on the metal sheet. After placing the cookies in the little convection oven thing I went into my room to continue reading my bible and studying about the book of Jeremiah. I was waiting for the "ding" that let me know the cookies were done (just like I had done with the two batches prior). When the "ding" went off I went to get out the cookies.......
Here is the scene........
I put down my little bible and study book about Daniel, step off the bed and put my house shoes on. As I leave my room and head to the kitchen I am really excited about the cookies, I was thinking about how I could surprise my roommate when she got back from her vacation in two days with some cookies. As I enter the kitchen there is a strange billowing of smoke coming from the oven. My first thought was, "YIKES! I think my oven is malfunctioning! MONSTER!!!!! The cookies! The amazing chocolate chips I brought from America (you can't but Chocolate chips here you have to bring them in a suitcase). OH MAN! WOW! The smoke is really coming out!"
So I run over and open the oven and take out the pan. The cookies are CHARRED! I start trying to think what could have happened I know I am not the best in the kitchen but wow this was BAD. My first though, power surge.......the power must have done something wrong and my oven has to be messed up. It's a possibility because the wall socket it plugs into is problematic and electricity is always a little strange around here. After more thought I came to the conclusion that the butter and the egg might not have mixed in as well as I thought they did.
While all this is going on in my head tons of black smoke is leaving my open kitchen window and going into the people upstairs bedroom window. (there is this big 7x7 open window space in the middle of my apartment. It is in the middle of all three apartment floors.....it's the same opening and the people upstairs have their window open) I bet that was a really nice smell to wake up to, REALLY BURNT COOKIES.
I came to the conclusion I should not be allowed to cook in the kitchen, or more practically I should always stay right next to what ever it is that I am making.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
One Year in......One Year to Go!
Hey Everyone!
It's been a really long time. Things here have been really great.....very busy as well.
Since starting our three nights a week English class it has been crazy busy!!! Classes started and we had to rush getting each story and lesson done. It was a 12 week set and right now we have two weeks until we finish. It's been amazing working in the neighborhood we already kind of knew.
Besides doing the three day a week ESL class Stacey and I do a once a week class in a different slum. It's been really neat to see the differences between the two. Stacey and I have also been doing a weekly training with two national believers on how to enrich their ministry and a new tool of telling people about Jesus. Our boss has also started a weekly session with my team and some other people on how to use more stories and see the set she and her husband worked on for the last 4 years.
Besides work I've been busy with a trip to America. The trip was for my best friend's wedding. It was really nice to be back in the states and see her wedding. My parents came to Fort Worth to meet up with me a few days before the wedding. We had fun going around Dallas and Fort Worth....I had a great time going to Wal-Mart, the mall, and eating American food.
After the wedding I went to Oklahoma for two days to speak at some churches and visit with friends.
Being back in South Asia has been really nice, things have been really busy. There are some new people that just arrived and it was my Birthday. Yayyy for being 24...I guess. I know 24 isn't that old but it just seems strange. When I was younger I had big dreams on where I would be and what I would be doing. I don't think I ever really saw my life taking the path it has taken. It's really amazing to see how God can really change a person and change what they can do. Three years ago I was able to go on my first trip overseas. They trip was in Thailand and Laos, I fell in love with both countries and the Southeast Asian people. That's where I first knew I wanted to live overseas one day and be apart of something bigger than me or my dreams. Living in South Asia is a lot different than Southeast Asia and America at that but I love it. "Just follow the Lord, he wont lead you wrong." That's what my great aunt Sis said when I told her I was thinking of doing m-work outside of the states. It's so true, I would have never chosen this place or path for me but it's so totally fitting. I love that each day is an adventure and I love the friendships I have with these people. Some days this country drives me crazy but it's okay.....some days America drives people crazy too I guess. I have no idea where the Lord is taking me next but that's okay. I have no idea where I'll be after next October or what I'll be doing and right now I'm okay with that. I trust the one I am following and will go where I am told and reap the blessings and continue to grow in the Lord.
It's been a really long time. Things here have been really great.....very busy as well.
Since starting our three nights a week English class it has been crazy busy!!! Classes started and we had to rush getting each story and lesson done. It was a 12 week set and right now we have two weeks until we finish. It's been amazing working in the neighborhood we already kind of knew.
Besides doing the three day a week ESL class Stacey and I do a once a week class in a different slum. It's been really neat to see the differences between the two. Stacey and I have also been doing a weekly training with two national believers on how to enrich their ministry and a new tool of telling people about Jesus. Our boss has also started a weekly session with my team and some other people on how to use more stories and see the set she and her husband worked on for the last 4 years.
Besides work I've been busy with a trip to America. The trip was for my best friend's wedding. It was really nice to be back in the states and see her wedding. My parents came to Fort Worth to meet up with me a few days before the wedding. We had fun going around Dallas and Fort Worth....I had a great time going to Wal-Mart, the mall, and eating American food.
After the wedding I went to Oklahoma for two days to speak at some churches and visit with friends.
Being back in South Asia has been really nice, things have been really busy. There are some new people that just arrived and it was my Birthday. Yayyy for being 24...I guess. I know 24 isn't that old but it just seems strange. When I was younger I had big dreams on where I would be and what I would be doing. I don't think I ever really saw my life taking the path it has taken. It's really amazing to see how God can really change a person and change what they can do. Three years ago I was able to go on my first trip overseas. They trip was in Thailand and Laos, I fell in love with both countries and the Southeast Asian people. That's where I first knew I wanted to live overseas one day and be apart of something bigger than me or my dreams. Living in South Asia is a lot different than Southeast Asia and America at that but I love it. "Just follow the Lord, he wont lead you wrong." That's what my great aunt Sis said when I told her I was thinking of doing m-work outside of the states. It's so true, I would have never chosen this place or path for me but it's so totally fitting. I love that each day is an adventure and I love the friendships I have with these people. Some days this country drives me crazy but it's okay.....some days America drives people crazy too I guess. I have no idea where the Lord is taking me next but that's okay. I have no idea where I'll be after next October or what I'll be doing and right now I'm okay with that. I trust the one I am following and will go where I am told and reap the blessings and continue to grow in the Lord.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Bad Day
Hey everyone! So I was talking with my roommate the other day. We both realized that usually when we write we write about the good days or the amazing stuff but never about the hard stuff or the stinky days. Well today has been a hard day! Nothing really big has happened that made it a hard or bad day. Usually it is a lot of little things that to a bad day, or sometimes just waking up in a bad mood. Today was not only a bad mood day but auto drivers drove me nuts. I realize that when you read this most of you will have been having a good day and will think well she just needs to gt over it or deal with it. I just wanted you guys to know that its days like today i really need your prayers and encouragement. Its days like today that make living here hard....when nothing in particular is going wrong. I love all of you and know you are behind me and lifting me up. I love this place, it's home but today I just wanted to be honest with you guys about the low points too.
Love, Sarah
Love, Sarah
Friday, July 24, 2009
Back!
Hey everyone! So I'm back in South Asia. After meetings and a training in Thailand I was ready to go on vacation. I went to Australia for a few days to visit some old friends and had a totally amazing time. There were meetings about changes taking place in the company and some about encouraging each other. The best times however were spent out side of meetings talking with friends that live in different places and hearing their advice on serving the Lord. It was really helpful and encouraging, sometimes the struggles or fears that occur here are only best worked through by receiving godly advise from brothers and sister that have been there before and can speak truth over you.
After the meetings finished I left to go to a training, the training was helpful but it mostly a lot of oral reciting............however I had a really bad cold and couldn't really talk. It was interesting when I had to give presentation and a song, a lot of squeaks came out and some sounds that resemble a goose. Everyone was rolling with laughter all I could do was smile, it was hard not having a voice (anyone who knows me knows I'm not shy and usually I am a pretty talkative person). In the evenings I had a blast riding around on a motorbike with my teammate. It was so nice to be in control of the vehicle and not have to bargain for a price on where to go. It was so nice being back in Thailand....I have loved going there over the years. However this trip was different from the others, my first time in Thailand and Laos I never wanted to leave. I knew my heart would leave a piece of it when my time came to head back to the states. My second time in Thailand it was nice to be back and see the country I first feel in love with overseas. However being back this time it felt like a stranger compared to India.....and India still feels like person I don't know well enough either. It's pretty amazing how the Lord has truly grown my heart for a country I only went to because he led me there, when I first was looking to move overseas I had a desire to move to Wales but the Lord had a way of knowing was needed somewhere else. I could never have known before hand the lives I would be welcomed into and possibly have the chance to change forever through sharing with them the hope within my soul. The hope of glory that is in Jesus Christ.
After coming back to my apartment it just feels like home. Being in Thailand helped make this country feel more like home. Leaving Thailand for my vacation was amazing. The people I visited in Australia were two amazing friends! The first was a camp counselor when I was in high school. She was really encouraging and the example of godly woman to a group of silly high school kids in America. The second was the sister of my camp counselor. We worked on a team together in America serving in a low income area in southern California (we helped to put on a sports Vacation Bible School and also worked on outreach). While working together she and I became amazing friends. When the summer was over and she left to go back to Australia I promised her I would visit and almost 4 years later got to follow through. Praise the Lord for cheap airline tickets and for vacation days!
After the meetings finished I left to go to a training, the training was helpful but it mostly a lot of oral reciting............however I had a really bad cold and couldn't really talk. It was interesting when I had to give presentation and a song, a lot of squeaks came out and some sounds that resemble a goose. Everyone was rolling with laughter all I could do was smile, it was hard not having a voice (anyone who knows me knows I'm not shy and usually I am a pretty talkative person). In the evenings I had a blast riding around on a motorbike with my teammate. It was so nice to be in control of the vehicle and not have to bargain for a price on where to go. It was so nice being back in Thailand....I have loved going there over the years. However this trip was different from the others, my first time in Thailand and Laos I never wanted to leave. I knew my heart would leave a piece of it when my time came to head back to the states. My second time in Thailand it was nice to be back and see the country I first feel in love with overseas. However being back this time it felt like a stranger compared to India.....and India still feels like person I don't know well enough either. It's pretty amazing how the Lord has truly grown my heart for a country I only went to because he led me there, when I first was looking to move overseas I had a desire to move to Wales but the Lord had a way of knowing was needed somewhere else. I could never have known before hand the lives I would be welcomed into and possibly have the chance to change forever through sharing with them the hope within my soul. The hope of glory that is in Jesus Christ.
After coming back to my apartment it just feels like home. Being in Thailand helped make this country feel more like home. Leaving Thailand for my vacation was amazing. The people I visited in Australia were two amazing friends! The first was a camp counselor when I was in high school. She was really encouraging and the example of godly woman to a group of silly high school kids in America. The second was the sister of my camp counselor. We worked on a team together in America serving in a low income area in southern California (we helped to put on a sports Vacation Bible School and also worked on outreach). While working together she and I became amazing friends. When the summer was over and she left to go back to Australia I promised her I would visit and almost 4 years later got to follow through. Praise the Lord for cheap airline tickets and for vacation days!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
VACATION
Vacation here I come! So tomorrow I leave for Thailand for yearly meetings and trainings. I cant wait! I love Thailand it was the first country the Lord lead me to and the people there are a lot different from the people here so it will be a nice change for the 2 weeks. After my meetings I head to Malaysia for a 15 hour layover then off to Australia. I cant wait! The Lord's blessings and rest while I am with friends and mentors will be amazing.
Love you all and hope this finds you well.
LUKE 18:1-8 ITS AMAZING
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Hello JULY!
Hello July!
July has been a great month! There has been a lot of great work going on here but also a break at time too! It's been really nice!
So I will attach the Pr@yer update so those of you who might not get it can see and if you already have seen it can continue to kneel :)
but before I do that......
keeping in the blog fashion i guess i should give a quick update that doesnt make it into my e-mails. Things here are great! Today I had a really good language lesson with my helper and look forward to going to teach ESL tonight in a slum neighborhood my teammate and I have started working in. Oh and a prasie! I was going to have a boss change take place but the Lord has been really cool and the higher ups have allowed the boss of my team to stay the same :)
Hello!
So these last few months have been very busy! I know it has been a while since I last wrote. There has been some amazing stuff taking place here so here is few things that the Lord has been doing here J
1. A team of four amazing godly women from Liberty University came to work with my team on our “Teach to Reach Team”. Teaching to reach is teaching ESL and bible stories along with ESL. The girls were here for two weeks. Two of the girls stayed at my roommate and I’s flat and the other two at our teammate’s flat. In the morning they taught Vacation Bible School to immigrant children from Nepal in a low income neighbor hood. The girls were amazing! The place where the VBS was held was at a new planted fellowship that meets in a basement. The first day we arrived there were power cuts so we taught the VBS in the dark and by candle light. The girls were great and even with the CRAZY heat in the basement, no lights and no fans it went amazing. The week of VBS was really fruitful and helped to get the fellowship known in the neighborhood. In the evenings the girls taught ESL, ESL was great we had a few parents of the children come and a lot of young adults.
One amazing story from that week is about a young woman. She is from the highest caste here, and is Hindu yet she just felt drawn to the fellowship and to come hang out and learn more about who Christ is. She has faced opposition in her family because her father is a religious leader of some sort in their area and her hanging around believers brings disgrace to her family. Even through the opposition she still came and even helped to serve food at meal time (since she is from the Brahman caste we were told that serving food to us
Please be praying for the new fellowship that’s just been started, pray for it’s leadership and the members. Please also pray for the children and the young adults in the neighborhood that came to VBS and ESL that the truths they learned would be upon their hearts and would tug at them.
2. A new neighborhood! My roommate and I have been working together in a neighborhood for a month or two now. There has been mixed responses, some people have been coming out of the wood works in some areas to come a learn while another part it was not well received. Both of these responses is all a part of the work here but with the type of work I am doing there is a fair amount of integrity involved in teaching ESL through stories. We want people to know we are teaching practical English but bible stories too, we don’t want to hide the fact that we are using stories to help teach. Please be praying for our national partner in that neighborhood. He is a great man of the Lord, please pray for our work with him to continue to be fruitful and glorify the Lord. However sometimes it seems like he is mainly wanting people to come to his church and that is his main goal…..so it’s almost like my team and the pastor are working towards different goals. Our goal is to get into the neighborhood form relationships teach the word of God, and go from there….we are not concerned about talking about churches from the get-go. Last week our national partner wasn’t able to meet up with us when we went in, but through it just being two young Americans we were able to spend more time forming relationships with the people we teach. There is a family in that neighborhood that has adopted my teammate and I as their two daughters. We spent a great amount of time cooking together and hanging out. Please pray for that relationship and for opportunities to continue to share the Lord with them.
3. My little sister from the village was able to come and stay the night with my teammate and I. WE HAD A BLAST! We played field hockey in the hallway, watched Hindi cartoons about The Jungle Book, ate some really good food and a great time with the Lord. She is six and is on fire for anything about the Lord. When my teammates teach bible stories to the women from the church in the village she learns them too. A few funny events about her staying here: she was introduced to Jelly Belly Beans! She loved them, I look them out as a treat after we ate. She was amazed that each had a different flavor and loved all the flavors she had. Watching her face at each new one she tried was hilarious. Before we ate anything thing, a snack, supper, or breakfast we had a wonderful prayer time. When it came time to go to bed we prayed and the girl was so funny…..she thanked God for every major appliance in the house (the fridge, the microwave, the oven, the stove that we made tea on, the AC, the fans, my laptop that we watched the show on and the water pump). Along with her prayer of thanksgiving for the material possessions the flat has she prayed very specifically for each of her family members and for her aunt Sarah and aunt Stacey (my teammate that lives in our flat too). In the morning I made us some pancakes, the kid loved them! She commented that they were very sweet and that she really likes American food.
4. The team!
There were going to be some changes made to our team because of the Company Reorganization that takes full effect in a few weeks. I had some thoughts on the changes that might take place with the changing of supervisors. There have been a few meetings about what the Teach to Reach team would look like under different supervision and through a lot of prayer and petitioning the supervisor change will not take place and the team will continue the work it has been doing.
5. Kristin, my amazing teammate and the goal of Teach to Reach!
Kristin has a house-helper that is from a M neighborhood and through that relationship Kristin has been teaching ESL through stories like crazy in that neighborhood! Since the team is based out of a Urban mega city there are many different people groups around us, with so many people groups it is really helping us to gain ideas on how to format our curriculum when we do publish it. The goal of the team is to write a ESL curriculum that other workers on the field can use with volunteer teams when they come out. Since there are many M’s working with many different people groups us being able to give notes or make story/ESL sets for certain people groups really helps more people out! Through volunteer teams connecting with more national people over here there are more opportunities to share the Truth.
6. A BOX! So the other day I received a very large and magnificent box from NDBC in Dunedin, Florida! They sent many amazing things that I love miss, and help make things here even more enjoyable. The two things I have most enjoyed as the bible study they sent and the picture book of bible stories to help in the ministry here. Other amazing things found in the magic box were sweet and sour worms J beef jerky, nerds, crystal light, oatmeal and a few crazy items from the Moon Pie company along with my favorite……CARDS from the fellowship members and a picture! I really loved working there leading up to my departure from the states and am overwhelmed by their gifts of love!
Prayer request!
1. For my relationships with national friends. Please be praying for continued boldness but for sharing that is lead by the Lord and is intentional. Lately there has been some really great conversations with my friend B from the village but please continue to pray for her and as Truth is revealed. When I think of my chats with me I am reminded of the parable of the Sower. I pray that she would be the sees the grew in the rich soil. (Matt. 13:1-23)
2. Team work!
Please pray for our relationships as we work together that my two teammates and I would have mercy, grace and love towards one another.
3.
Travel Mercies- I fly to Thailand for two weeks for meetings about the reorganization and some fellowship planting training. Please ask the Lord for an amazing time of fellowship with fellow workers and that I would learn as much as possible while I am at meetings. After the meetings and training finishes I am flying to Australia to see some friends for a vacation. Please pray for safety as I travel and for a great time. I will have a 15 hour layover in Malaysia I cant wait to explore but would ask fro prayers as I explore the new country alone.
4. Please continue to pray for my family in the loss of my grandmother. Also please pray for my dear friends/ adopted family in Florida as Jen goes through chemo.
5. My best ol’ pal Heather is moving back to America in a few days. Please be praying for her as she says goodbye to this country she loves and prepares for life back in America. There are a lot of exciting things happening when she moves back like her wedding in October and family get-togethers. I am going to miss her like crazy too, some days she’s the one besides the Lord that really gets stuff that’s going on here and can offer some practical advise......godly advise. We were best friends in college and I was shocked when the Lord sent me to this part of the world but happy to know she would be a few hours away. Please pray for the ministry she will be able to do back in the US, please pray a prayer of preparation for the work.
Alright so this was a longer e-mail than usually! I hope you all got through it….if not thanks for trying to
I thank all of you for your prayers and your hearts that are here involved in the work. May the Lord richly bless each of you!
In the next e-mail I cant wait to tell you about an amazing servant of the Lord that is the leader of the new fellowship his story of coming to the Lord and service is amazing and inspiring.
Notes on the brain this month:
A heart song: Instead of a Show, from the Limbs and Branches album by Jon Foreman
A heart verse: Acts 28:1-10 It’s one of my favorite stories in the bible and shows the amazing healing power of the Lord
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Comments
Hey everyone! So this afternoon I explored my blog more and now anyone can leave comments and it doesn't requier a lot of work to do it now~ please leave your encouraging notes. I know there are a lot of you that came to know about my emprise blog through my family and friends and I would love to get to know you all too!
In Christ, Sarah
In Christ, Sarah
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
May is here!!!
Hello! So I know it has been a really long time since I have last posted anything. Things have been going really well here but very busy. I started working not only in the slums school but also in a two different slums in my mega city. Here's a little taste of what I've been up to.
Monday: Language Lesson 9-11am, Study time 11-1 ish (on the days I'm feeling ambitious) then team planing 3-4pm, then leave for ESL class in the slums 4-8:30 pm
Tuesday: Leave for the slums school at 7:00am, arrive at school and teach from 8:30-11:30am, then head from the school to my family in the village's house 12:00-3pm, Head home and get ready for house fellowship, house fellowship 5:00-9:00, SLEEP
Wednesday:Leave for school at 7:00am, arrive at school 8:30-11:30 am, head home and rest :) or go back to the village
Thursday: Language lesson 9 am, Study time 11-1 pm, Team meeting for what's going to happen that day, leave for city slums for ESL class & teach 4- 8:30pm
Friday: Language lesson 9am, catch up on e-mail, head to the village with team for ESL class 1-5pm, shopping for what needs to be bought.
Saturday: DAY OFF :)
Sunday: Big fellowship with nationals and internationals 9am-12pm, Head to the village 12pm-6pm, come home
So thats what a week can look like, there have been many meetings in the last month put in there too. It's been really great to meet with so many people that have ideas and plans for what the team I'm on will be doing. It's been great to be so focused and wiped out at the end of day. I sleep so well now :)
Last week was the last week of school for the slum school so they dismissed for the summer due to the heat. The entier experience in the school was amazing. I made wonderful friendships with my fellow national teachers. The teachers were always so helpful with me learning Hindi, it helped to have encouraging women around. The kids were totally cool, I already really miss them. At the school I would arrive in time for morning devotions then head off to my first class room. The I worked with 1st class, they were a group of kids ranging in age from 5-10 years old. The reason the older kids are in there is because they are just now starting school. The 1st class usually had 12 kids in it. They were all so cute and so much fun to teach Bible stories and English to. They were usually excited to learn each day I arrived. When any teacher walks in the room all the kids stand up and say, "GOOD MORNING DEDE" (Dede just means Aunt). Then they all sit down. It's really cute. Some of my best memories of the first class was coloring pictures of how they drew the bible story. They always loved the chance to color. By far the best was when we acted out the "Jesus Calms the Storm" and "David and the Giant". From when I first came to the class there was one little boy that was always sad and never wanted to talk to the other kids, he never wanted to learn, and would sit to one corner of his desk and cry. It was really sad to see such an adorable child so sad and grumpy all the time. Through the weeks that I worked there I had a lot of chances to pour into him and before I knew it we always had a smile on his face. Once he started to smile he started to learn, he started to play with the other kids, and he loved gettin to help tell the bible stories and learn his new Enlgish vocab. The 1st class also had more amazing kids in it too. They were all really exciting to work with and to invest in.
After 1st class I would head to 3rd class, the age group was 10-12. They are the most advanced kids in the school. With them we really got to go in depth with stories and form more complex sentences. My best memories with them was at lunch time. 3rd class had 7 kids in it, 3 of them had younger brothers and sisters in the school. So during lunch they would all take out their lunches. The great thing about their lunches is one person would bring the rice, another the rotti (like tortillas), another kids would bring the cooked veggies, and one would top it off with another random food. Once they all took their food out they would go get their little siblings and bring them in the room. Then after everyone had food they would eat and some times even offer some to me. It was so sweet because the parents didnt make those lunches the kids made most of the meal. They brought so much joy to my heart!
2nd class was my crazy fun class. Those kids were always ready to joke around, be loud, and just have fun. They were the most creative bunch! When we made story pictures they were the most creative. They loved to sing be the christain songs they knew in English and the songs they knew in Hindi. The most fun was one about Jesus having Super powers.
During lunch times I would practice my Hindi. A few months ago I bought some American children books at a local book store. I picked three books that I grew up on. My language tutor and I translated the stories into Hindi and then I would read the stories in Hindi. The kids were funny and would quote the book all the time. On top of reading children books I would also test the new bible stroies I learned in Hindi with the school teachers. The teachers are all believers so thats been nice, they knew the stories and helped me tell them. Besides being able to use my language with them I also formed great frienships with all 4 of the teachers. One teacher is my language tutor's niece, another is a good friend of a friend I made in the city.
Thats the school in a not so small nut shell.
Thia week a group of 4 girls from Liberty University (in Virginia) are here. They are four amazing sisters in the Lord. They are such go-getters. They bring tons of energy and new eyes to South Asia. Two or staying in the apartment my roommate and I have and the other two are staying with our other teammate. All four girls bring something special and unique to the table, they all have these amazing stories of how the Lord is working in their lives. Having them here has been a great refreshed and has made me feel truly blessed. They are teaching VBS in the morning to immigrants from the country above us. In the evenings they are teaching ESL to the parents and other people. It's been amazing! Please be kneeling for them they are going strong but fighting off jet lag. They are with us for two weeks. I know I have to take full advantage of the friendships while they are here.
Okay well it's late i need to go but wanted to say HELLO!
Monday: Language Lesson 9-11am, Study time 11-1 ish (on the days I'm feeling ambitious) then team planing 3-4pm, then leave for ESL class in the slums 4-8:30 pm
Tuesday: Leave for the slums school at 7:00am, arrive at school and teach from 8:30-11:30am, then head from the school to my family in the village's house 12:00-3pm, Head home and get ready for house fellowship, house fellowship 5:00-9:00, SLEEP
Wednesday:Leave for school at 7:00am, arrive at school 8:30-11:30 am, head home and rest :) or go back to the village
Thursday: Language lesson 9 am, Study time 11-1 pm, Team meeting for what's going to happen that day, leave for city slums for ESL class & teach 4- 8:30pm
Friday: Language lesson 9am, catch up on e-mail, head to the village with team for ESL class 1-5pm, shopping for what needs to be bought.
Saturday: DAY OFF :)
Sunday: Big fellowship with nationals and internationals 9am-12pm, Head to the village 12pm-6pm, come home
So thats what a week can look like, there have been many meetings in the last month put in there too. It's been really great to meet with so many people that have ideas and plans for what the team I'm on will be doing. It's been great to be so focused and wiped out at the end of day. I sleep so well now :)
Last week was the last week of school for the slum school so they dismissed for the summer due to the heat. The entier experience in the school was amazing. I made wonderful friendships with my fellow national teachers. The teachers were always so helpful with me learning Hindi, it helped to have encouraging women around. The kids were totally cool, I already really miss them. At the school I would arrive in time for morning devotions then head off to my first class room. The I worked with 1st class, they were a group of kids ranging in age from 5-10 years old. The reason the older kids are in there is because they are just now starting school. The 1st class usually had 12 kids in it. They were all so cute and so much fun to teach Bible stories and English to. They were usually excited to learn each day I arrived. When any teacher walks in the room all the kids stand up and say, "GOOD MORNING DEDE" (Dede just means Aunt). Then they all sit down. It's really cute. Some of my best memories of the first class was coloring pictures of how they drew the bible story. They always loved the chance to color. By far the best was when we acted out the "Jesus Calms the Storm" and "David and the Giant". From when I first came to the class there was one little boy that was always sad and never wanted to talk to the other kids, he never wanted to learn, and would sit to one corner of his desk and cry. It was really sad to see such an adorable child so sad and grumpy all the time. Through the weeks that I worked there I had a lot of chances to pour into him and before I knew it we always had a smile on his face. Once he started to smile he started to learn, he started to play with the other kids, and he loved gettin to help tell the bible stories and learn his new Enlgish vocab. The 1st class also had more amazing kids in it too. They were all really exciting to work with and to invest in.
After 1st class I would head to 3rd class, the age group was 10-12. They are the most advanced kids in the school. With them we really got to go in depth with stories and form more complex sentences. My best memories with them was at lunch time. 3rd class had 7 kids in it, 3 of them had younger brothers and sisters in the school. So during lunch they would all take out their lunches. The great thing about their lunches is one person would bring the rice, another the rotti (like tortillas), another kids would bring the cooked veggies, and one would top it off with another random food. Once they all took their food out they would go get their little siblings and bring them in the room. Then after everyone had food they would eat and some times even offer some to me. It was so sweet because the parents didnt make those lunches the kids made most of the meal. They brought so much joy to my heart!
2nd class was my crazy fun class. Those kids were always ready to joke around, be loud, and just have fun. They were the most creative bunch! When we made story pictures they were the most creative. They loved to sing be the christain songs they knew in English and the songs they knew in Hindi. The most fun was one about Jesus having Super powers.
During lunch times I would practice my Hindi. A few months ago I bought some American children books at a local book store. I picked three books that I grew up on. My language tutor and I translated the stories into Hindi and then I would read the stories in Hindi. The kids were funny and would quote the book all the time. On top of reading children books I would also test the new bible stroies I learned in Hindi with the school teachers. The teachers are all believers so thats been nice, they knew the stories and helped me tell them. Besides being able to use my language with them I also formed great frienships with all 4 of the teachers. One teacher is my language tutor's niece, another is a good friend of a friend I made in the city.
Thats the school in a not so small nut shell.
Thia week a group of 4 girls from Liberty University (in Virginia) are here. They are four amazing sisters in the Lord. They are such go-getters. They bring tons of energy and new eyes to South Asia. Two or staying in the apartment my roommate and I have and the other two are staying with our other teammate. All four girls bring something special and unique to the table, they all have these amazing stories of how the Lord is working in their lives. Having them here has been a great refreshed and has made me feel truly blessed. They are teaching VBS in the morning to immigrants from the country above us. In the evenings they are teaching ESL to the parents and other people. It's been amazing! Please be kneeling for them they are going strong but fighting off jet lag. They are with us for two weeks. I know I have to take full advantage of the friendships while they are here.
Okay well it's late i need to go but wanted to say HELLO!
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